Self-clenching nails



June 21, 1955 E. GlsoNDl v SELF-CLENCHING NAILS INI 'ENTOR` 'Filed Aug. 8, 1952 i BY f Y TTOR NE Y United States Patenti() 2,711,115 p t\ SELF-CLENCHING NAILS Emanuel Gisoudi, New York, N. Y.

Appiicunuu August s, 19sz, seriul No. 303,344 2 claims. (c1. ss-zs) It is an object of the present invention to provide fastener or nail of this character in which a locking or clenching action is secured by the simple drive of the nail into or through the material in which it is placed. The invention contemplates the provision of means in the form of one or more clenching prongs which are projected out laterally from the shank of the nail when the nail is driven and which prong or prongs enter into the material, or clench at the back of the material, to thus provide lateral extensions from the shank of the nail and prevent its withdrawal from the material into which it has been driven.

While numerous types of self-clenching-nails have been conceived, many of them have been found unsatisfactory for materials of low density, such as certain l types of insulating and wall boards which oier very little resistance to entry and withdrawal of a nail driven into them. Moreover, many types of self-clenching nails attempt to distort parts of their Shanks within the material into which the nail is driven, in such a manner that displacement of a substantial portion of the material is required. This often results in the formation of lumps or distortions at the back of the material, and in some cases pieces of the material are broken out with the result that not only is the appearance of the materialv rendered unsightly, but the nails are not firmly anchored therein.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a self-clenching nail of such construction that the clenching element which is forced laterally from the shank of the nail is such that it penetrates the body of the material into which the nail is driven without requiring displacement of more than an insignificant amount of such material. Thus, the nail may not only be more readily driven into the material, but it will become firmly anchored therein without the possibility of destruction of the part of the material that is located adjacent to the driven nail.

The improved nail is one which is particularly adapted for use in building construction, and especially where the material into which the nail is to be driven Vis in whole or in part of low density nature, such as soft and compressible insulating board and the like. While the nail is thus particularly adapted for use in connection with building structures, this is only'one of the many usesV to which it may be put, since it` will be obvious that it may be employed for any purpose requiring a 2,711,115 Patented June 21, 1955 1"secure, self-clenching or self-locking nail, which can be driven like an ordinary nail, but which will effectively lock itself in place by lateraly extended parts, entering either within the body of the material in o'r through which the nail is driven, or else extending in back of such material.

An object of the invention is to provide a nail of this character which can be stamped from sheet metal and which will require a minimum of such material and can be fabricated by simple stamping and forming operations, 'but which will nevertheless, be strong and readily penetrable through various building and other materials, without damaging or defacing the same.

These and other objects are attained by the invention, a more particular description of which will hereinafter appear and be set forth in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein illustrative Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on vthe line 5--5 of- Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the nail kshowing the same after it has been driven through several thicknesses of material, and in its locked or clenched condition;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the short leg of the nail showing the lug formed out of the same;

Fig.r8 is a front view of a portion of the longer leg, showing a modified form of clenching prong;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional viewk of the nail having thevmodied prong of Fig. 8 in its clenched condition;

Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional view through a modified form of nail having -two clenching prongs, and

Fig. 1l is a sectional View, Vtaken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Vthe drawing, and particularly to Figs. l to 7Vthereof, 1 indicates the blank from which the nail is formed, the same being stamped from relatively thin sheet metal, such as stainless steel ably treated to be rust-resistant. form of an elongated strip, and includes a longer leg section 2 and an integrally formed shorter leg indicated at 3. The parts indicatedat 6 and 7, and located between the legs 2 and 3 constitute the head of the nail, which is adapted to collapse under driving force to assume the flattened form seen in Fig. 6 when the nail is driven home into or through sheet material. The collapsing of the head as above described in facilitated by the notches 8 andV 9, permitting the head to fold on the lines 10 and 11 or other metal preferwhen struck by a hammer.

end, the short leg 2 is formed with a narrowed part 12 confined within the inturned parts 13 of the edges of the longer leg 2 adjacent to the pointed end thereof. Adjacent to the narrowed end portion 12 is provided a U-shaped slit 14, resulting in the formation of a lug 15. The lug is bent on the line 16 and lies between the two legs of the nail, fitting within the channel of the longer leg 2. When the lug 15 is bent horizontally, with the nail in a vertical The blank isin thev position, itresults inthe formation of an aperture or openins A.17, located in .such a position .that .the .tree end of.

the clenching prong 4 enters into the opening 17 as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Toward its free end, the prong 4 is curved slightlyas seen vin Fig. `5 -to therebycause its A end to just enter .the opening 17 above .the lug :15.

.In Fig. 6, the .nail is .shown after the same 'has .been

driven through several thicknesses of material. Fortexf fore being .driven into the rnaterial, the nail appears asv shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive., wherein fit will-be noted that the head islin open Yloop formation. Nlllzien:driving force, as by a hammer blow, is applied to :the head-fthe nail will be driven .into the material untiltheglower portion 210i the `.head contacts the surface of the material-and furtherpenetration of the shorterleg will thenbe halted. Furiherdriving force imposed on. the head willcollapsc the head to the flattened condition shown in Fig. 6, .and as the longer leg continucs .penetration ofthe material, the longer leg thus moves longitudinally relatively ato vthe short leg, As such movement .of :the long 'leg takes place, the clenching prong 4 carried by said "leg is ,forced out through .the opening y17 in the short leeandtorms agiatcrally-cxtcnded .clenching clement which renters into :the material 20 l and securely anchors the nailiu place. The lug 1S located ,adjacent t0 the v,Opening 1,57 constitutes a guiding or dellecting elementfor the tongue or vprong 4, causing it tc be guided `through the .opening .17 and readily enter the vmaterial 20.

It is to be noted that thc clcnchins v'prong .4 -is .of vsuch form and size and will enter the material 20 on a curve and with yits `pointed Vend vr-foremost, -and -will not require displacement of any great amount of thematerial 20 vto effect penetration. Thus, fthe possibilityof the material 20 being distorted or broken by the clenching action of the nail will beprevented.'

While l have herein suggested that-thefclenchingprong 4 will become embedded within the material into whichV the nail is driven, it is to he pointed out ythat --this .will occur only when the material is-of ,sufficient thickness 'to cause the prong to enter within it when the prong is extended laterally from the shank of the nail. ln cases where a relatively thin insulating boardis used, with such board of a thickness indicated by the dotted line122 5in Fig. 6, the prong 4 will then act as aclenching'elernent at the back or rear of the boardrather than be-.cmbedded within ythe body lof the board.

While ll have herein indicated thatthc clenching prong or tongue 4 shall project out-laterally from only .one side of the shank ofthe nail, it can `be arranged yto. project at a plurality of sides if desired. This result-can beattaincd by a structure of the character shown in Fig. l8, wherein the prong or clenching element .4a is narrowed at itsfree end as indicated at '23 and is thus Aprovided with :the shoulders 24. This arrangement is such ithat only .the narrower portion 23 of the prong #la -will ypass through the opening 17 when the nail is under driving force. The-shoulders 24 constitute .stop means to limit fthe penetration of the prong 4a through the opening 17, land as the longitudinal ymovement ofthe longer leg relative to the shorter 'leg 3 continues, the widerportionoftheprong 4a, -or that part located lbetween the shoulders 24 and the base ofthe tongue, will buckle and distort'outwardly through 4the back of the leg 2 to form the laterallyextcnded distortion indicated at 25 in Fig. 9. Thus, by this arrangement, a clenching Veffect is attained not lonly by the -part 23 of the prong flabut'also by the remainder or 4wider part of the prong buckling inthe manner -shown at l2.5'. f

Also, while I have herein shown thenail as being provided with a single clenching prong, it may be formed with avplurality of such :prongs `In Fig. lOis shown ya` nail having a shank composed of a pair of legs 26 and 27 .smuggled .together .at .the 19p by a loop-.shaped .collapsible head 28. A prong 29 is formed out of the vleg 27,.

while a similar prong 30 is formedY out of thelegi26.

Leg 27 is formed with an opening 31 in which the e`nd of" the prong 29 enters. A deilecting lug' 32 is lbcated at said opening 31. Similarly, an opening 33 andlug 34 adjacent to the same is formed in the legV 26. When the vhead 28 is collapsed by a hammer blow, the prongs 29j restricted thereto but is broad enough to cover all s uetures coming within the scope of the annexed-claims.

What I claim is: 1. A nail of the character described having beingilongerftha-ntthe other and .being channel-shaped `for the .g'reaterfportion of its 'zlength,-thelegs 'ibeing connectedat one endcwith a llooptportion constituting V.a he'ad, said loop Vportion being 'collapsible when -a driving forceis,

: imposed uponit .to thereby cause the llonger leg to be longitudinally moved .relatively -to the shorter leg,'the shorter leg being positioned. within vthe channelz of the longertlegv .and zhaving.a.space .between it and rsaid longer f leg `and .being .provided Vwith an aperture extending. through it, the longer leg being provided between its ends with la .stampedfout `prong normally curved toex'tend across :theispacehetween .the-'legs and in a-directiontoward the.:shorter"'leg,fsaideprong 'having apointed end normallyn positioned in the Aaperture .in the shorter leg, the shorter leg beingprovided 'withan inturned lugdirected inwardly toward lthe longer leg and closing thespace between the legs fandbeing located -at the aperture and acting as a.y

deflectingelement to causethe prong to be deflected outV laterally tthrough .thetaperture when a driving force -is I imposed ori-.the longer-leg.

2. Atsheebmetalinail ofthe character described having a shank composed of a pair of overlying legs, one of -said legs :being longer :than the other, -the legs being 'connected at-oneendlbya loop-shaped head, `saidloop being collapsiblcxwhen adriviugforce isimposcd on it, said drivin-g` force causing t-he'longer leg to be longitudinally moved rclativeliyito thelshorter leg, the longer leg being channel-- shaped, V4the-,shorter leg being vfitted within and closing la shank. :i composed of .la .pair .of overlying legs, one of -slaid legs I thetchannellinthe longer leg, and `providing .a spacein said channel :between `the `short Vleg and the concave face of fthe longer leg, ya stamped-outprong formed in they longer deg and lcarried `in a direction toward -the -short #leg Ly and housediinlthe spacebetween the legs, `the short'leg being formed -with ran opening positioned at the end 'of said-prong, a lug formedintheshortleg atl the bascoffthe opening,said1lug being extended -in a direction toward-the Y long leg beyond the end of the prong and closing the space bet-weenthe legs,fsaidlug constituting a deilecting element to cause lthe -prong -to be deflected Youtlaterally lthrough the opening whenfa driving force is imposed onthe longer! leg; Y

l `References:Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES y'PATENTS t i i i l 

